Are tasty nutrition bars real?~The GoodOnYa Bar~Review and Giveaway

What exactly is a GoodOnYa bar?

"The GoodOnYa Bar is a bar gone rogue. Not afraid to use real food with healthy fats. This is not just an energy bar, but an organic nutrition bar that offers you real value for your money. Organic, dehydrated and full of flavor. This is what you should you be eating."

Trying to find a healthy snack is getting harder these days.  Just because something is labeled "natural" no longer means that it is necessarily anymore.  I was really impressed when I read the packaging on the GoodOnYa bars that I received to try.  What makes them special?  

• No GMO. 
• No soy. 
• No dairy.  
• Gluten free. 
• Packed with protein.
• Organic 
• Real ingredients! 

I received a Breakfast bar, Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate bar and Peanut Butter Honey bar.   

Our daughter really seemed to love this one.  The chocolate has a bit of an aftertaste but if you are a chocolate lover that should be no problem!  It has 10 grams on protein and is also grain free!

The Peanut Butter Honey bar was really tasty!  It is the same bar as the Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate bar without the chocolate.  This tastes like something I would be able to make at home if I knew anything about making nutritional bars.

This bar contains organic raisins and brazil nuts.  It is also high in iron and fiber with 8 grams of protein.  What a great way to start off your day!

These bars are not low fat which you would think is a bad thing.  However, I read all about fat vs. sugar on their website and it really made me think!  Everyone should really take the time to read it and it might just change the way you eat!

As a special offer to all our readers, the nice GoodOnYa bar people are offering a coupon code!  Enter "healthy" on their website for free shipping!

Want a chance to try some GoodOnYa bars?  You can win the same three bar sampler that I received!  Enter below!

Mooney Farms-Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes~Review and Giveaway

 

Every New Years Eve growing up we had the same dinner; two kinds of shrimp, mac n cheese, potatoes and veggies.  This year, my husband had to work the next day so we weren't able to travel home.  I decided that I would attempt making our own version at our house so I wouldn't miss out on my favorite holiday meal.  My husband said that he also wanted some kind of stuffed chicken also, so I went looking for a new recipe to try.  I found a sun dried tomato topped stuffed chicken that I couldn't pass up.  This is how I first dicovered Mooney Farm's Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes.  Everything I made ended up pretty tasty actually, but my husband would not stop talking about the chicken.  I started using sun dried tomatoes almost once a week now in some form.  This is why I was so excited to get the chance to review and giveaway some some to our readers!

Mooney Farms began in 1987 as a family owned kiwi farming operation. Products were sold at the farmer’s markets in Northern California by the family members. With the addition of sun dried tomatoes, their first sale to Price Club South San Francisco changed everything. The family’s Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil & Herbs sold out in a record 4 hours! Sun dried tomatoes had become mainstream and the Mooney Family had the winning recipe!
In 1994, Mooney Farms moved to a larger facility located in Chico, California to meet the growing demand for their products. Recently remodeled and expanded, the 100,000 square foot facility reflects their family’s rich history of the Mediterranean with 200 year old olive trees planted among the rows of lavender and rosemary.
The Mooney Family originates from Sonoma County and has always appreciated the natural beauty and style of Sonoma’s Vineyard landscapes and wineries which line the beautiful farming valley’s. Reminiscent of this area, they have created a beautiful rustic Italian style tasting room and storefront, which welcomes you to their family business.

We received the following to try:

• California Sun Dried Tomatoes Julienne Cut with Italian Basil 
• California Sun Dried Tomatoes Julienne Cut with Zesty Peppers
• Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil & Herbs - Halves 
• Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil & Herbs - Julienne Cut
• Sun Dried Tomato Pesto with whole pinenuts
• Sun Dried Tomato Bruschetta with Italian Basil

I made the stuffed chicken again with Sun Dried Tomatoes in Olive Oil & Herbs - Julienne Cut with a salad using California Sun Dried Tomatoes Julienne Cut with Italian Basil.  I also looked up some recipes and decided to try to make Penne Arrabbiata(with ziti instead ;)).
Here is the recipe:

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 cups Bella Sun Luci sun dried tomatoes julienne in oil, oil drained and set aside, sun dried tomatoes set aside separately
8 lg garlic cloves, rough chopped
1/2 tsp dry chile flakes (or 1/4 tsp if less spicy is desired). Fresh chiles may also be used
6 oz dry white wine
Salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan and fresh basil leaves for garnish

Instructions:
Over a medium flame in a large sauce pan, heat 2 Tbs of the sun dried tomato oil and sauté the garlic, stirring often until light golden.
Add the chile flakes and stir 10 seconds, add the wine and reduce until 1/2-1 oz remains, season with salt and pepper and serve hot over just-cooked, well-drained penne pasta.
Garnish with basil and parmesan.

Soooooo good!  And super easy!  I was only planning on making half a box of ziti and actually poured too much in.  Otherwise, there would have been just a little more sauce. This is a new staple in our house and I am actually planning on making it tomorrow night!  

Now that you are hungry, want to win everything I received? Enter below!

Cuties Juices~Review

We recently got to try Cuties Juice from Califia Farms.  What makes Cuties Juice special? It is all natural juice with no added sugar and 150% daily intake on Vitamin C.  It also contains protein, healthy omegas, and antioxidants. Best part?  They taste great! Sweet but not too sweet. They all were a perfect blend!  I got to try the following kinds of juices:

Tangerine, Orange, and Mango Juice

Tangerine, Orange, and Pineapple Juice

GoGo Green- Tangerine and Kiwi Smoothie

Protein Power- Tangerine and Mango Smoothie

Blue Blaster- Tangerine and Blueberry Smoothie

Rockin' Red- Tangerine and Strawberry Smoothie

Island Cuties- Tangerine and Pineapple Smoothie

Dreamsicle- Tangerine Surprise Smoothie

I know that these are designed for kids but everyone in our family loved them.  My husband actually looked up where to buy Cuties near us.  We were afraid we wouldn't be able to find them at our locally owned, small grocery store.  Luckily, Walmart just started carrying them this month!  We really liked all the the juices and smoothies; there wasn't one we wouldn'y buy.  I really liked Protein Power for Boo because she doesn't eat meat.  For some reason, she has never liked meat and refuses to eat it.  GoGo Green and Blue Blaster were like no other juice I have ever had.  Different and very tasty!  I would also like to try Califia Farms other products, Pure Almondmilk and Calico, 100% Pure Coconut Water.

You can read more on their website, Facebook or Twitter pages.